Let me share a quick story about a family friend, someone close to my parents.
He worked hard his whole life and waited to retire at 70. In great shape, plenty of money, and a list of dream destinations. But two months into retirement, he was diagnosed with cancer. Six months later, he was gone.
While he lived a great life and was beloved by family and friends, it’s still a tragedy that he didn’t get more time to do what he wanted in retirement, and a stark reminder that “later” isn’t really guaranteed for any of us.
So the purpose of this blog is simple: Let’s figure out the soonest that you can retire and get to work achieving that. Especially if you are in your 50s and 60s. Here’s why:
Your Body and Mind Are Still Sharp
Your body and mind are still sharp in your 50s and 60s. You can still travel without worrying about whether you’ll be comfortable on long flights or walking around all day. You can still learn new things, start new hobbies, maybe even move somewhere you’ve always wanted to live.
Every year you delay retirement is a year when you’re still physically and mentally capable of doing the things you’ve always wanted to do. There’s a big difference between being 62 and being 72 when it comes to energy levels and health. Do the things you want to do while you can actually enjoy doing them.
Time Is Running Out Faster Than You Think
If you make it to age 60, you’ve got on average 21.08 years if you’re a man and 24.12 years if you’re a woman. The older I get, the faster two decades seem to pass — and I bet it’s the case with you. Those retirement years will fly by faster than you expect.
More importantly, not all of those years will be high-quality years. But the odds of you having high-quality years is much higher in your 60s than in your 70s, and your 70s will have more high-quality years than your 80s.
When You Stop the Grind, Your Mind Opens Up
One of the most underestimated benefits of leaving the corporate world is mental freedom. Research shows that leaving a demanding job, especially one with high stress or long hours, can significantly free up mental capacity. When those work demands are removed, people commonly report better mental clarity, improved mood, more energy, and reduced anxiety.
With fewer work-related obligations, many find they have more mental space for hobbies, relationships, creativity, or even part-time passion projects. It’s important to prepare financially, of course, but equally important to recognize the cognitive and emotional relief that often comes with leaving the full-time workforce.
So What’s Stopping You?
Not enough money?
I know financial fears are real and we want to make sure you can stay retired for the duration of your life. But if you don’t have as much saved up as you’d like, here’s a perspective shift that might help: making just $1,000 per month, or $12,000 per year, is like having a $240,000 portfolio at a 5% withdrawal rate.
I know it’s not ideal, but think about it. A part-time consulting gig in your field, teaching, freelancing, or even working at something you actually enjoy could be way less stress than your full-time corporate job, plus give you much more flexibility on how to spend your time.
Many retirees find that part-time work also provides the social connection and sense of purpose they miss from their careers, without the stressful demands of corporate life.
Economic uncertainty?
I don’t know what’s going to happen to the markets any more than you do. But I do know that there is never going to be a perfect time to retire. Or rather, we’re never going to know the perfect time in the current moment. We can only see it in the rearview mirror.
I think what’s more important than retiring at the perfect economic moment is making the necessary adjustments when, not if, the markets and your portfolios change.
Waiting for certainty often means waiting forever. Every day you spend waiting for the “right time” is a day you’re not living the life you actually want.
The Bottom Line
If you’re waiting for perfect clarity, it may never come. But today, you do have the opportunity to start planning for the life you really want.
If you’re wondering whether you can afford to retire sooner than you planned, let’s run the numbers together. You might be closer to freedom than you think, and I’d love to help you figure that out.